Chess game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game board apparatus is disclosed which is particularly adapted to stimulate interest in the game of chess. A chess board and two model castles are supported by a base having moat-like trenches adjacent opposite marginal edges of the chess board. Each model castle is disposed at a respective playing end of the base and separated from the chess board by the adjacent moat. Each has a pivotally mounted drawbridge extendible across its adjacent moat.

O United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,741,517 Zurek June 26, 1973 [54] CHESS GAME APPARATUS 1,850,420 3/1932 Schuldt 273/136 K Inventor: George Zurek 300 North Euclid 2,398,368 4/1946 Fox 273/136 K g Pasadena Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney-Leo J Young [22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1971 211 App]. N01: 198,141 ABSTRACT A game board apparatus is disclosed which is particu- [52] Us. CL U 273/136 B 273/136 D larly adapted to stimulate interest in the game of chess. [51 1111. (:1. A631 3/02 A chess bard and mdel castles are suPPmed by 58 F 1 is h 273 131, 136 a base havmg "wat'like trenches adjacent 1 d 0 care marginal edges of the chess board. Each model castle [56] References Cited is disposed at a respective playing end of the base and separated from the chess board by the adjacent moat. 1 27 2 1 :l f PATENTS 273" K Each has a pivotally mounted drawbridge extendible 46 ,018 1 1 9 owar d t t. 621,799 3/1899 Degges 2731131 B across I S a lace moa 815,960 3/1906 Kuhn 273/131 K 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 CHESS GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to game board apparatus, and 5 I in particular to chess games.

2. Description of the Prior Art The game of chess is intellectually stimulating to those who play it. Once a player has learned its fairly intricate rules he can look forward to many hours of pleasure in playing the game and usually intellectual growth as a result of the exercise of his intellectual capacities.

Unfortunately, many people, and in particular children, do not know how to play chess. Tomany the game of chess seems dull in comparison with the more popular games such as the spectator sports. What is needed is a chess game which will immediately capture the interest of the novice and stimulate him to learn the rules of the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I the board.

Preferably the model buildings have parapets and other like indicia of medieval castles. The castles further include pivotally mounted planks which can be extended across the pockets in the manner in which a drawbridge extends across a moat. In addition to stimulating interest in the game, the moats'serve as receptacles for playing pieces captured during play of the ame.

8 An additional feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention resides in the provision ofa storage receptacle in the base. In this preferred embodiment, the chess board and the castles are removable from the base. On removal of the chess board, the storage receptacle is exposed and the castles and playing pieces can be stored therein while the game is not in use. A further feature of the preferred embodiment resides in the provision of magnets in the castles and in the base for magnetically securing the castles in their proper place while the game is played.-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game board apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein a portion of the game board has been broken away to show the storage receptacle;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view, partially in section and taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

' DETAILED DESCRIPTION The base 10 shown in FIG. 1 has four upright side walls arranged in rectangular configuration and a top surface 11 which provides a horizontal support. The

base can be fabricated from wood pieces but preferably is a unitary structure of molded plastic for ease and economy of construction. A pair of longitudinally spaced-apart, elongated, trench-shaped pockets 17 extend downwardly from the top surface 11. Each pocket 17 is spaced-apart from a respective playing end of the base to define support surface portions 18 at each playing end of the base. The pockets 17 give the appearance of moats and stimulate interest in the game. In addition, the pockets serve as receptacles for holding playing pieces captured during play of the game. A substantially square and centrally located pocket 15 extends downwardly from the top surface 11.

A conventional square chess board 12 is disposed atop the base and covers the central pocket 15. As is customary, the chess board has an 8 X 8 matrix of alternately colored squares indicating where the playing pieces are to be placed by the adversary players during play of the game. One of the playing pieces, king 100,

is shown onone of the squares. A corner portion of the chess board 12 is broken away to show a corner of the pocket 15 and playing pieces are shown as they would be stored in the compartment formed below the chess board.

I A model castle 30 is disposed atop a support surface portion 18 and its front side is shown in the'perspective of FIG. 1. Castle 30 is preferably a separate moldedplastic piece and is removable from the base. Castle 30 has parapets 32 resembling the low, protective walls or railings which border the edges of roofs, balconies and the like of medieval castles. A pair of ramparts 34 on the-castle 30 resemble the fortifications of medieval castles. A central conical tower 33 looms above the castle 30 and carries a pole and banner 31. Preferably the pole and banner are removable from the tower 33. Thus, during play of the game, the banner is placed upright as shown to symbolize that battle is taking place. At checkmate, the defeated player removes his banner to symbolize his defeat. A plank 35 is mounted to the front side of castle 30 and is pivotally movable between a stable upright position and a stable lowered position wherein it extends across the moat 17 to give the appearance of a drawbridge extending over a moat. Drawbridge plank 35 is also used to symbolize either ongoing battle, victory, or defeat. Thus, during play of the game, each adversary player rotates his drawbridge up to symbolize that his castle is closed and is being defended by his playing pieces. If he is checkmated, the player lowers his drawbridge to symbolize that he has suffered defeat and that his castle is now open to the victor as spoils of the battle.

Another model castle 50 is also disposed atop a supporting surface portion 18 and is located at the opposite playing end of the base from the castle 30. Preferably the two castles are shaped somewhat differently to indicate that they are associated with different players. Thus, in the presently preferred embodiment, castle 50 has a central tower with a gabled roof to contrast with the conical tower of castle 30. In addition, a pole and banner 51 carried by tower 50 is marked differently from the banner 31. Castle 50 is like castle 30, however, in that both are removable from the top surfacecate its orientation while rotated toward its closed position. FIG. 2 also shows in cross-sectional view magnets 56 and 19 which are secured in a conventional manner to castle 50 and base 10 respectively. While not specifically illustrated in the drawings, preferably a corresponding pair of magnets are provided for securing castle 30 in place atop the surface 11.

While the invention has been particularly described with reference to its preferred embodiment in a chess game it should be evident that other embodiments for different games played with playing pieces such as checkers and the like are within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for a game played with playing pieces by adversary players, which comprises:

a game board having opposite playing ends and a plurality of playing squares thereon indicating where the playing pieces are to be placed by the adversary players during play of the game;

two model buildings each having parapets to give the appearance of a castle being defended by a respective one of the adversary players;

a base supporting the game board above an intermediate portion of the base and supporting the model buildings above opposite end portions of the base, the base having two elongated trench-shaped pockets for holding playing pieces captured during play of the game, each pocket being aligned with a playing end of the board and each being located between a model building and the game board; and

a pair of planks each mounted to a respective model building and pivotally movable between a stable upright position and a stable lowered position in which it extends over the adjacent trench-shaped pocket so as to give the appearance of a lowered drawbridge extending over a moat.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the game board has an 8 by 8 matrix of playing squares thereon so as to be suitable for a chess game.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for magnetically holding the model buildings in place on the base.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the game board is removable from the supporting base and the supporting base has a centrally located receptacle for holding the playing pieces.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein eac model building is removably disposed on the base.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a model pole and banner removably supported atop each model building. 

1. Apparatus for a game played with playing pieces by adversary players, which comprises: a game board having opposite playing ends and a plurality of playing squares thereon indicating where the playing pieces are to be placed by the adversary players during play of the game; two model buildings each having parapets to give the appearance of a castle being defended by a respective one of the adversary players; a base supporting the game board above an intermediate portion of the base and supporting the model buildings above opposite end portions of the base, the base having two elongated trenchshaped pockets for holding playing pieces captured during play of the game, each pocket being aligned with a playing end of the board and each being located between a model building and the game board; and a pair of planks each mounted to a respective model building and pivotally movable between a stable upright position and a stable lowered position in which it extends over the adjacent trench-shaped pocket so as to give the appearance of a lowered drawbridge extending over a moat.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the game board has an 8 by 8 matrix of playing squares thereon so as to be suitable for a chess game.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for magnetically holding the model buildings in place on the base.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the game board is removable from the supporting base and the supporting base has a centrally located receptacle for holding the playing pieces.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each model building is removably disposed on the base.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a model pole and banner removably supported atop each model building. 